Bennett opens up about England captaincy

Phil Wilkinson

Wayne Bennett has faced questions about who will captain England this year - Sean O’Loughlin or Sam Burgess.

The Australian seems to be in no rush to announce who will lead the national side in the mid-season Test against Samoa in May and in the World Cup.

Sean O'Loughlin was man of the series when he captained England to a 2-1 series win against New Zealand in 2015

Bennett named O’Loughlin as his captain when he took charge of England a year ago - months after the Wigan skipper had led the national team to a 2-1 Test triumph against New Zealand.

But O’Loughlin missed last November’s Four Nations through injury, and Sam Burgess took over the role.

Asked if he faced a difficult decision in deciding his captain, Bennett told a media conference in Manchester: “No that’s not a difficult decision. It’s only a difficult decision when you’ve got no one putting their hands up for the job.

“Having Sean O’Loughlin and Sam Burgess available won’t be a difficult decision.”

England’s next game is a Test against Samoa in Sydney in May.

Asked if he planned to reveal his decision, Brisbane boss Bennett said: “That’s not going to happen now, it doesn’t have to.”

O’Loughlin, 34, has made it clear he wants to play for England this year.

“If I’m captain great, if not it won’t affect my commitment to England,” he said ahead of Wigan’s Super League season.